Quempas

The Quempas is a compilation of two early modern Latin carols, namely Quem pastores laudavere and Nunc Angelorum gloria, which usually an extension ( " trope " ) or a refrain occurs.

History

The oldest sources, including the chief Furter handwriting Ms. 28, date from the 15th century; The individual songs are likely to be older, as probably also the custom that in Christmas church services ( Midnight Mass, Christmas Vespers or Mass on Christmas Day ) the first song (and sometimes the second ) row-wise in change by students (solo and unanimously ) or student choirs (also polyphonic ) was sung, which were placed in all four corners of the church ( " the Quempas about" ).

Since the 16th century German versions are in use, the most famous was that of Michael Praetorius, Musae Sioniae 1607, with the German text " The glorified the shepherds, honor ." In this version, the two songs are alternately sung stanza, each followed by the trope.

The custom of singing Quempas - closed except the original song combination also more songs and was in many places an integral part of Christmas traditions, both in worship and in streets and squares.

Today is the Quempas singing, regionally variable, usually not performed on Christmas morning, but on a Saturday night or Sunday morning in late Advent. In the Erzgebirge, the custom of Umsingens in the Christmas has not yet received on Christmas morning. In some villages, each with its own traditional melodies are tw. from the 17th and 18th centuries have been preserved until today. About the Erzgebirge composer Rudolf Mauersberger (1889-1971), this tradition also finds a place in the liturgy of the Christmas Mass and Vespers of Christ Dresden Kreuz Choir.

1930 gave William Thomas and Konrad Ameln a collection of old Christmas songs under the title The Quempas - out booklet ( Barenreiter Verlag, Kassel, artistically designed by Helmuth Uhrig ) and thus stimulated the Quempas singing to new.

Original

Quem pastores laudavere Quibus angeli dixere Absit vobis iam timere, Natus est rex gloriae. Ad quem lively ambulabant, Aurum, THUS, Myrrham portabant, Immolabant sincere haec, Leoni victoriae. Christo regi Deo nato Per Mariam nobis date Merito resonat vere, Dulci cum melodia. Exultemus cum Maria, In coelesti Hierarchia. Natum promat voce pia, Louse, honor et gloria.

The praised the shepherds, to which the angels spoke: Do not be afraid; Born is the King of glory. To him, the pilgrimage kings, brought gold, frankincense and myrrh, sacrificed it fair sense the lion of victory. Christ the King, the God -born, by Mary given to us, resounds it truly rightly with lovely music. Let us rejoice with Mary in the celestial hierarchy. The son lift with pious sound Praise, honor and glory.